Is hazing the same as bullying?

Hazing is kind of a ritual generally that has been done in years past, kind of like a right of passage, that colleges have and camps have and schools have that kids follow through. It is kind of like they have moved up the social ladder. They have earned the right to be mean and hurtful to others. The crazy thing about hazing is we used to think it was all part and parcel of fun. The truth is it has caused tremendous pain and suffering for lots of kids. And now we put that on the bullying line. It is really unacceptable behavior. There are lots of ways for kids to feel privileged and to move up the ladder without being mean and hurtful. I am really against hazing. I think it is one of these things that schools, camps, college should stop, frats should stop because humiliation and ridicule is not the only way to build comradery. It used to be thought that that is what it was. It is the wrong way to go.

Joel Haber, PhD

Psychologist, Bullying & Parenting Expert, Author

Dr. Joel Haber is a Clinical Psychologist and internationally recognized bully prevention and parenting expert. He was selected as a webinar leader and a speaker for the Obama Administration Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention initiative. He was also an invited participant to the Second Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention Summit in 2011. His recent book, Bullyproof Your Child for Life: Protect Your Child from Teasing, Taunting and Bullying for Good set the bullying standard for schools, camps, sports, organizations and families dealing with bully prevention and intervention. He recently published The Resilience Formula: A Guide to Proactive, Not Reactive Parenting. He is a consultant and expert to the American Camp Association, and to LG Electronics as a member of (LGTextEd.com), providing cyberbullying and mobile harassment expertise to parents and families. He is an advisor to Cartoon Network’s anti-bully campaign: Stop Bullying: Speak Up. He is an expert for No Snap Judgments: The Addams Family Broadway Show- National Campaign to promote acceptance and tolerance amongst our youth. He is also co-founder of Tool Kits for Kids (toolkitsforkids.com), recipient of five national parenting awards for helping parents and kids develop the tools and emotional life skills to overcome worry, build confidence and develop resilience. He has written and published extensively, speaking each year to thousands of parents and educators to help make children’s lives, safer and better.

Hazing is kind of a ritual generally that has been done in years past, kind of like a right of passage, that colleges have and camps have and schools have that kids follow through. It is kind of like they have moved up the social ladder. They have earned the right to be mean and hurtful to others. The crazy thing about hazing is we used to think it was all part and parcel of fun. The truth is it has caused tremendous pain and suffering for lots of kids. And now we put that on the bullying line. It is really unacceptable behavior. There are lots of ways for kids to feel privileged and to move up the ladder without being mean and hurtful. I am really against hazing. I think it is one of these things that schools, camps, college should stop, frats should stop because humiliation and ridicule is not the only way to build comradery. It used to be thought that that is what it was. It is the wrong way to go.